Valid interfaith marriage requires a dispensation

Submitted on May 27, 2009

Posted in

dear father

Fr. John Dietzen

Q. My grandson, who is Catholic, will be married in a Methodist church to a girl of that denomination. Will this marriage be valid in the Catholic Church? Or does there need to be a priest present?

Normally, as you know, a Catholic must be married before a priest or deacon for the marriage to be valid according to Church law. However, the bishop of the diocese may grant a dispensation, allowing that marriage to take place before a judge, minister or other licensed official for marriages in that state. This is referred to as a dispensation from the canonical form of marriage.

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